Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Age and change in the adult male sex role

  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present paper proposes that the adult male sex role cannot be adequately understood without adopting a developmental perspective. The author reviews some of the current literature on the male sex role, summarizes Levinson's model of male adult personality development, and provides a reinterpretation of the mechanism by which men move into transition and stable periods. The paper concludes that men modify their conceptions of masculinity at a number of points throughout their adult years. These modifications result from dissonance created when their current concept of appropriate male behavior becomes too discrepant with age norms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Benedict, R. Continuities and discontinuities in cultural conditioning. Psychiatry, 1938, 2, 161–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crandall, V. The Fels Study: Some contributions to personality development and achievement in childhood and adulthood. Seminars in Psychiatry, 1972, 4, 383–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fasteau, M. The male machine. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould, R. The phases of adult life: A study in developmental psychology. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1972, 126, 33–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haan, N. Personality development from adolescence to adulthood in the Oakland Growth and Guidance Studies. Seminars in Psychiatry, 1972, 6, 399–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartley, R. Sex role pressures in the socialization of the male child. Psychological Reports, 1959, 5, 457–468.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hourard, S. Some lethal aspects of the male sex role. In S. Jourard, The transparent self. New York: D. Van Nostrand Company, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung, C. G. The stages of life. In R. F. C. Hill (Trans.), The collected works: Structure and dynamics of the psyche (Vol. 8). New York: Pantheon, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knox, W., & Kupferer, H. A discontinuity in the socialization of males in the United States. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 1971, 17, 251–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Komarovsky, M. Cultural contradictions and sex roles: The masculine case. American Journal of Sociology, 1973, 4, 873–884.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinson, D. Mid-life transition: A period of adult psychosocial development. Psychiatry, 1977, 40, 99–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinson, D., Darrow, C., Klein, E., Levinson, M., & McKee, B. Periods of adult development in men: Ages 18–44. The Counseling Psychologist, 1976, 6, 21–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mussen, P. Long term consequences of masculinity of interests in adolescence. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1962, 26, 435–440.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neugarten, B., & Guttman, D. Age-sex roles and personality in middle age: A thematic-apperception study. Psychological Monographs, 1958, 72, No. 17 (Whole No. 470).

  • Nichols, J. Men's liberation: A new definition of masculinity. New York: Penguin, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peskin, H., & Livson, N. Pre- and post-pubertal personality and adult psychological functioning. Seminars in Psychiatry, 1972, 4, 343–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pleck, J. The male sex role: Definitions, problems, and sources of change. Journal of Social Issues, 1976, 32, 155–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheehy, G. Passages: Predictable crises of adult life. New York: Dutton, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shostak, A. Middle-aged working class Americans at home: Changing expectations of manhood. Occupational Mental Health, 1972, 3, 2–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terman, L. Psychological factors in marriage happiness. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1938.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valliant, G., & McArthur, C. Natural history of male psychologic health: The adult life cycle from 18–50. Seminars in Psychiatry, 1972, 4, 415–427.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Ohio State University, USA

    John Moreland

Authors
  1. John Moreland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The project presented or reported herein was performed pursuant to a grant from the National Institute of Education, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. However, the opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the National Institute of Education, and no official endorsement by the National Institute of Education should be inferred. The author wishes to thank his friends and colleagues Barb Benton, Laura Brown, Linda Gannon, Vince Harren, Steve Haynes, and Eileen Montague for their critical comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moreland, J. Age and change in the adult male sex role. Sex Roles 6, 807–818 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287236

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287236

Keywords

Search

Navigation